Link to Lakeview Center Renovation Plan here; specifically, see pages 98-114

The Lakeview Center is currently a place for community events, voting, administrative offices and a refuge for summer campers on rainy days.

In May, the Park District presented designs and plans to expand and further develop Lakeview Center, which Executive Director Steve Wilson says may start as early as this fall. Some, not all, residents received a survey in August about Lakeview, and 2 open houses are to be held mid-August. The Park Board hasn’t even heard yet what residents think about expansion at Lakeview, and yet they are going to start renovating in a month or two. They have already budgeted $1 million over 3 years and only NOW are coming to the residents. 

What’s the rush? The Board has offered no data to support the need for programming space at Lakeview, determined where future campers at Great Gillson will go when it rains, and ignored estimates that show it will take at least 13 years to recoup the $1 million expense through event rentals. Most surprisingly, they mistakenly assert that event rentals for weddings will not increase congestion and parking problems on summer weekends. We all know that adding more cars in Gillson on hot summer weekends is a bad idea.

We encourage you to complete the Park Board’s survey on expanding Lakeview and attend their open houses and other public meetings. Ask the Board whether this expansion is necessary for programming when residents have said for years not to put activities at Gillson that can be held elsewhere. It is irresponsible to expand Lakeview based on “good faith” that the Board will find some programs to put there. Where is the data? How were the costs were determined? Are the costs certain or will they rise like past Park District building costs? Why is the Board only now asking residents their views? What is the hurry to push this through and further monetize Gillson? If this expansion goes through, future event goers will assuredly complain about the lack of available parking on summer weekends. Will the Board then once again seek to add more parking? Let’s stop this expansion now.